“What I’m saying is,” he says as his hands move up my thighs, stroking lazily, “I see no other option for us. You’re mine, Anna, that’s all there is to it. It’s not a choice, it’s a fact.”
“You don’t need to sound so happy about it.” I sniff. It sounds like he’s talking about a prison sentence or something.
He lifts one hand to grip my chin between his thumb and index finger. “I’m not happy about it. I never thought I’d feel anything for a woman again, and I’m not sure I’m capable of being what you need. I don’t want to hurt you, Anna—”
“Anna! Hurry up!” Rake bellows again.
I kiss Arrow once, gently, just a simple touch of our lips, then slide off his lap. Without another word, I unlock the door and walk out of the room. I find my brother in the kitchen, sitting there with a plate full of food in front of him. He points to the seat next to him with his fork, silently inviting me.
“Who cooked?” I ask, grabbing a plate and serving some of the scrambled eggs and bacon.
Rake shrugs. “One of the women. Jess, I think.”
I take my place next to him. “You still angry at me?”
His eyes soften when he looks at me. “You know I can’t stay mad at you long.”
I’m glad he feels that way.
I eat my food in silence, wondering how best to approach the Arrow subject. I don’t want the two of them to fight over me. They’ve been friends a long time, and I don’t want to come between that. Arrow is right; it would be so much easier if we could just stay away from each other. In a way, I guess we’re being selfish, but at the same time, feelings like this don’t come around very often. They haven’t ever for me before. I’ve never felt such an instant attraction to someone before. Is it an attraction? Or fascination? There is something tethering us together, a connection. I can’t explain it, and I’m done questioning it.
“I’m sorry I worried you,” I say. “And I’m sorry that I got involved in something that I wasn’t meant to.”
Rake puts his fork down and pins me with his green eyes. “You’re my baby sister, Anna. I heard what Sin said to you, but I couldn’t ask for a better sister. Yes, you’re strong-willed, opinionated, and a general pain in my ass, but what sister isn’t?”
I smile at that. “I learned from the best, after all.”
He smiles, now staring down at his plate. “You’ve got that right.”
“Everything else went well on your . . . run?” I ask.
He nods once but doesn’t say anything else on the topic.
“What are your plans for today?” I ask, easily changing the subject.
“Tonight I’m going to Rift to see how it’s running. Are you going to class today?”
“Yeah, I need to work on my thesis. Now that my kidnapping is over, I guess it’s back to reality.”
He grins. “Only you would play it off like that.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t hurt, so it could have been a whole lot worse,” I say quietly.
Rake puts his piece of bread down. “And that’s why they are still breathing.”
“I don’t want anyone hurt because of me,” I tell him, taking a bite of the eggs and chewing slowly. “So who do I need to thank for your good mood this morning?”
He smirks. “They’re still in my bed sleeping if you want to go and take a peek.”
“They? You’re a pig sometimes, Adam,” I say in disgust, enunciating his real name.
“Hey, you asked.”
“And you overshared.”
“Not my fault only one woman can’t satisfy me.”
Bailey had, but I didn’t bring her up.
Instead, I roll my eyes. “When you find the right one, trust me, she’ll be more than you can handle.”
“And until that day,” he replies, “I’m free to explore the many beautiful women who come my way.”
* * *
Arrow comes into the kitchen just as I’m cleaning up. His hair is damp and he smells delicious, like lime and soap. If he were mine to run my hands over right now, I’d be a happy woman.
“What happened to Jill?” Rake asks him, brows furrowing and completely oblivious to the tension now filling the room.
Arrow’s gaze darts to me quickly, before he clears his throat and answers. “Was done with her.”
“So? You could have passed her on, she was great at giving h—”
I slam the plate I was washing down in the sink, then turn to see the two of them staring at me. “Could you please have this conversation when I’m not here?”
I walk past them and go to find Faye.
Time in the gym is exactly what I need right now.
* * *
I plop down on the mat, breathing hard, my knees bent in front of me. “That was an awesome kick.”
Faye, lying on her back, turns her head to me. “I know, right? And a man wouldn’t expect it.”
“How long have we been at it?”
“An hour.”
“I better take another shower and get ready for class.”
“What happened with Arrow?” Faye asks, sitting up and looking at me.
“Nosy.”
“Yep,” she replies, grinning. “I love the man and I want him happy. So please tell me there was some progress.”
I nibble on my lip before I reply. “We kissed, and admitted our feelings. I think we’re going to try and make this work, but Arrow needs to talk to Rake first. I’d do it, but I think with how the club works Arrow needs to do what he has to do first.”